Chapter 117
They had never talked about it, but both of them knew that Zoe was reluctant to have sex with him ever since she returned. The fact that she enjoyed some of it didn't change the fact.
However, it was very different tonight.
Beneath the dim light, Mason was being very gentle with her. It seemed that every time he thrust into her, he did so with care and concern as if he was worried about hurting her. He even leaned in her ear and asked if she enjoyed it.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to give him an answer. However, her body was honest and betrayed her. This was the best sex she had had in the last three years. Both of them were immensely satisfied.
After that, she took a bath. Mason put on a pair of long pants and a shirt. Then, he headed to the balcony and enjoyed the breeze while smoking a cigar.
The wind blew past him and brushed his neatly trimmed hair. His normally stern face softened. He could hear Zoe in the bathroom. She had finished taking her bath, but it'd take her some time to dry her hair and apply her skincare.
Leaning back on the chair, he checked his phone casually and found an unread text message. It was from Lilith's doctor.
“We found illegal drugs in the IV drip from Ms. Lilith’s last medical accident, Mr. Mason. We were able to save her in time, but the drugs inflicted irreversible damage on her internal organs. The experts examined her and unanimously agreed that she only had two years left.”
There were mentions of the illegal drug's name in the text. Reading its name wordlessly, he tightened his grip on his phone. He even shut his eyes.
Mason was in a foul mood. The exhilaration he had just gotten from sex with Zoe was all but gone. His eyes grew gloomier, growing darker than the night itself.
After a brief pause, he made a phone call.
The person on the other end answered the call and heard his cold voice.
“Were you the one behind Lilith’s little accident? Don't you think you've done way too many dirty deeds in the name of protecting the Lockwood family's reputation? I thought I told you a long time ago. There's no way Lilith and I will become a thing.”
A brief silence met his words. Then, the person replied coldly, “I don't understand what you're trying to say, Mason!"
Mason hung up the call abruptly. Taking out a cigarette, he tried to light it up with his trembling hands. His past memories came flooding at him. A man was holding a suitcase and left the room while a hysterical, but elegant lady took off after him. Then, there was their little boy, hiding under the staircase, watching on helplessly as they fought with each other.
“Don’t bother coming back here if you take a step out of this house, Westley Lockwood.”
“Go and have your perfect, little life with her!”
“Who the hell is she? She's got you so mesmerized that you wouldn't know left from right if your life depended on it..."
In the end, Westley chose to leave the house. The elegant lady slumped onto the floor and murmured, “l won't let you leave me! You're my husband. How could you fall in love with another lady and get her pregnant?”
She kept repeating the same thing over and over again, oblivious to the fact that her little boy was watching. That moment would traumatize him for the next twenty years. That was when he knew he wouldn't love anyone, ever!
By the time Zoe came out from the bathroom, he was dressed neatly. She was stunned and asked, “Are you heading out, Mason?"
He was in a foul mood, but he gathered himself and proceeded to pinch her face lightly before flashing her a faint smile, “Something happened at work. I have to deal with it. Go ahead and go to sleep. Don't wait up for me.”
With that, he left.
She watched as he left and stood there for a while before sitting down on the makeup table and applying skincare, as she usually did.
She looked at the birth control pill when she was done and spaced out. He didn’t use a condom tonight and she was in her fertility window. She could very well get pregnant if she didn't take it.
Wrestling with herself for a long time, she finally decided to take the pill. She had to get a hold of herself. Although she had decided to love Mason again, she had to act more rationally.
It was wiser to avoid bringing a new life into this world before their relationship found a footing.
The night was gone and morning came, but Mason still hadn't returned home.